Signal for use on vehicles



e. A. GARTH.

SIGNAL FOR USE ON VEHICLES. APPLICATION EILEDZJANBFMLISZI.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

G. A. -GARTH.

j SIGNAL FOR USE ON VEHICLES.-

PM D60. 13, 1921.

.3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- G. A. GARTH.

SIGNAL FOR USE 0N VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

PATENT OFFICE-Q GEORGE ARTHUR GAME, or NUWARA ELIYA, CEYLON'.

SIGNAL FOR USE ON VEHICLES.

Application filed January 31, 1921.

To a]! whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ARTHUR GARTH. a British subject, residing at Nuwara Eliya, Ceylon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signals for Use on Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to signals, for use on vehicles, of the kind which indicate the direction in which the vehicle is proceeding. The object of this invention is to provide a construction of signal which shall be more compact and effective than those heretofore constructed both when used in the daylight and in the dark.

According to this invention, a device, for

use on a vehicle to indicate the direction in which the vehicle is about to turn or is proceeding, comprises a single signal-- member mounted so as to be capable of direction toward either side of the vehicle and means connected therewith whereby said member may be operated from a point within the reach of a person in the vehicle.

Conveniently the signal member is automatically returned to its normal position when a particular signal is .no longer required, but preferably it is capable of being retained in any signaling position to which it may be brought until it is positively returned to the said normal position.

The signal-member may @be .rotatably mounted and operated .by means of two pulleys, one disposed within reach of a person in the vehicle and the other secured to the said member, which pulleys are connected with each other in such manner that any rotational movement of the one is transmitted to the other. ,7

These and other features of the invention will be pointed out in the claims and described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate twoflconstructions of signaling-device according to this invention. and in which Figure 1 is a vertical section through one construction of signal according to this invention, and a front View of its control shown with part of the cover broken away.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the said signal shown partly cut away, and a side view of its control showingpart of the cover re-.

moved.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a modi- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

Serial No. 441,318.

fied construction of signal, and a front vie v of its control.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the signal-member comprises a casing 11 in which a black arrow 12 is rotatably mounted in front of a white background. The arrow 1s secured on a spindle 13 borne in the bushed center 14 ofa part 15 constituting the sald background and is connected b a brace 16, curved for a purpose hereinafter to be described, with the center of a grooved pulley 17, the connection of the brace with the pulley being adjustable by means of a screw and slot securing means 18. The pulley is rotatably received in a cup-shaped housing 19 formed at the forward end of a hollow boss 20. The latter is situated at the back of the casing 11 and extends partially therethrough to receive a securing nut 21. The said pulley has a spindle 22 extending axially from its rear face which spindle is received and borne in the hollow boss, extends therethrough, and has its extremity screw-threaded to receive locknuts 23 by means of which it is held in position. Between "the rear face of the pulley and the bottom of the cup-shaped end of the boss there is a coiled spring 24; which is secured at its outer end to the wall of the said cup-shaped end and at its inner end is secured to a stepped portion of the spindle 22 in such manner. as to tend always to move the pulley in the anti-clockwise direction. The pulley is operated 'against its spring through a Bowden wire 25 secured at one end to the periphery of the pulley and given a partial turn in the groove around the same.

, The white background in front of which the arrow 12 rotates is of opal-glass and is held in a metal rim 26 by bent-over lugs on the latter. The opal-glass lies against a padded stepped portion 27 of the front of the casin and within the latter, and a sheet of c ear glass 28 is disposed in front of it, the metal rim serving to space-the two sheets of glass apart to clear the arrow 11. A bezel 29, which fits over the front of the casing is secured to the latter and bears upon the clear glass so as'to hold it together with the metal rim and opal-glass securely in position.

The signal-member is secured by the lug 30 in a prominent and unobstructed position on the front of a vehicle (in the case of a motor vehicle it would be situated preferably on the center of the cowl immediately in front of the wind-screen) and is connected by the aforesaid Bowden wire with a control which is situated within easy reach of a person in the vehicle. This control consists of a casing 31 having a removable front 32 and housing a double-grooved pulley 33 somewhat larger in diameter than the signal pulley 17. This control pulley is formed with axial projections 34 one at each side which together constitute a spindle for the pulley and are received and borne in recesses 35 formed in the back, and

removable front respectively of the casing 31. The other end of the BoWden-wire aforementioned is secured to the pulley and is wound partially around the periphery thereof in one of the grooves. A fingerpiece 36 secured to the front face of the'pul-. ley, extends through a slot in the edge of the casing and forms the means whereby the control is operated, and a spring pressed detent 37 within a recess formed radially in the periphery of the pulley enters notches 38, formed on the inside of the casing, as the arrow is brought into its various signaling positions. The strength of the detent spring is suflicient to retain the pulley and with it the arrow in any signaling position against the action of the spring 24 until the finger-piece is again positively operated.

The operation of the signal'is effected by moving the finger-piece in its slot so as to wind the Bowden wire farther into groove on the pulley 33 and unwind it from the pulley 17, thus causing the latter to turn. The various positions of the arrow and their indication are as follows The arrow is directed horizontally to the right when the vehicle is about to be turned .to the right; horizontally to the left when the vehicle is proceeding in that direction; vertical (the normal position) when the vehicle is continuing straight ahead, and oblique to the left to give the caution signal which is used when it is desired to indicate that the vehicle is slowing down or stopping and when it is desired to warn other vehicles that there is not room to pass. When the finger-piece is moved back the wire is slackened off the control-pulley 33 and is once more wound on the puley 17 under the action of the coiled spring 24. Thus the arrow is returned.

It will be appreciated therefore that this construction is one that is compact, simple in construction and easy of operation, and is far more effective than the arm: si al used at present. Moreover, as with vehicles having closed bodies it is the practice of the driver to leave open some convenient part of the body in order that the arm-signal may be given, the advantages ofthe closed body are not fully realized. With the present invention, however, the body may be entirely closed without affecting the operation of the signal. Another advantage of As it is necessary for'the occupant of the.

vehicle to have some idea of the position of the signal a small red glazed window 41 is provided which, in the normal position of the arrow is covered by a plate (not shown) secured to the brace 16, but for any other position of the arrow is uncovered.

If desired a second signal somewhat smaller than the first may be provided at the rear of the vehicle (say, for instance on the rear off side mudguard). This second signal can be operated from the same control as the first and for this purpose the control pulley is doubly grooved to carry another control wire.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 3 is somewhat similar to the construction above described in that a rotating arrow is secured to a pulley which is connected by control wires to a control pulley. In this case however, the'arrow is formed as an-aperture 42 in a white opaque disk 43 which is secured on the front of a reflector 44, and with the latter rotates in a casing 45 behind a clear front glass 46. The said aperture is glazed with green glass and at the tail of the arrow there is another small circular aperture 47 which is glazed with red glass. The re flector is rigidly secured at its rear end to extends through the back of the casing 45,

the pulley being held on the bearing between a flange 50 and a collar 51.

The. hollow bearing which extends through the back of the casing extends also through a bracket 52 and a support 53 all of which are clamped tightly together against the collar 51. The bracket forms the means whereby the lamp is secured in position and the support is provided for one end of each of two flexible tubes 54 which are adjustable therein by means of the screws 55. These tubes lead from the signal-member to a control 56 and inclose the control wires.

The control comprises a casing 57 in which a second grooved pulley 58 of the same diameter as the first, is mounted to rotate. The shaft of this pulley extends through the front of the casing to receive a an operating-arm 59.

A spring 60 is provided, within thecasing, which is connected with the pulleyspindle at one end and is secured to the casing at the other and operates to return the latter to the normal position after a signal has been made. The control-wire takes the form of a flexible band 61 which is virating arm occupies the same position rela-' tively to its casing as the arrow does to its casing. Moreover in this case the operating lever is held in position while a signal-is made and returns to the normal position when released. It will be appreciated that this construction affords an effective indi cationwhen operated during the day and to enable the signal to be effective when it is dark a light is arranged behind the disk. This may take the form of an electric bulb 64 in the forward end of the hollow bearing or, in an emergency, may be a-candle in the holder 65.

It will be appreciated with this construction'that another signal conveniently of the first described construction, operatively connected with the front signal may be placed at the rear of the vehicle, in which case the arrow may bered and translucent so that it serves also as the rear light. If desired a window of clear glass could be provided at the side of this rear signal so that the light is advantageously used to illuminate the number plate of the vehicle.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the constructions described as these are given by way of example only.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 2- 1. A direction indicator comprising in combination, a casing having a glazed aperture at the front, a signal member disposed to the rear. of but close to thesaid aperture, a rotatable member within and disposed toward the rear of said casing, connecting means between the signal member and the rotatable member, and means for rotating the latter member.

2. A direction indicator comprising in combination a casing having a glazed aperture extending completely across its front, a signal member extending from one side to the other of and disposed to the rear of but close to the said aperture, a rotatable member mounted upon the rear wall of the said casing, connecting means between the signal member and the rotatable member and means for rotating the said latter member.

3. A direction indicator comprising in 5 combinatlon a. casing having a glazed aperture extending completely across its front, a signal member extending from one side to the other of and disposed to the rear of but close to the said aperture, a plate to constitute a background for the eye situated behind the said signal member, a rotatable member mounted upon the rear wall of the said casing, connecting means between the signal member and the rotatable member, and means for rotating the said latter member. I a

4. A direction indicator comprisingv in combination, a casing having a glazed aperture extending completely across its front, a signal member extending from one side to the otherof and disposed to the rear of but close to the said aperture, a translucent plate to constitute for the eye a background siuated behind the said signal member, a-

rotatable member mounted upon the rear wall of the said casing, a light source disposed between the said background and rotatable member, connecting means between the signal member and the rotatable member, and means for rotating the said latter member.

5. A direction indicator comprising in combination, a casing having a glazed aperand the rotatablemember which means are carried around clear of said bulb, and means for rotating the said rotatable member.

6. A direction indicator comprising in combination, a casing having a glazed aperture extending completely across its front,

a signal member extending from one side to the other of and disposed to the rear of but close to the said aperture, a translucent plate to constitute for the eye a background situated behind the said signal member, a rotatable member mounted upon the rear wall of the said casing, an electric lamp situatedbetween the said background andv rotatable member and centrally in line therewith, a

reflector connecting the said rotatable'member to the signal member and inclosing the light source and means for rotating the said rotatable member. I

7 A direction indicator comprising in combination, a casing having a glazed aperture extending completely across its front, a signal member extending from one side to the other of and disposed to the rear of but close to the said aperture, a translucent plate to constitute for the eye a background situated behind the said signal member, a rotatable member mounted upon the rear wall of the said casing, an electric lamp situated between the said background and rotatable member and centrally in line therewith, a substantially parabolic reflector having the lamp at its focus and connecting the said rotatable member to the signal member and inclosingthe light source and means for retating the said rotatable member.

8. A direction indicator comprising in combination, a casing having a glazed aperture at the front, a signal member disposed to the rear of but close to the said aperture, a pulley disposed toward the rear of the said casing, connecting means between the signal member and the pulley, a hand operable control pulley pivotally mounted, means for mounting the control pulley at a distance from the signal casing, and means operatively connecting the two pulleys. D p

9. A direction indicator comprising in combination, a casing having a glazed aperture at the front, a signal member disposed to the rear of but close to the said aperture, a pulley disposed toward the rear of the said casing, connecting means between the signal member and the pulley, a hand operable control pulley pivotally mounted, means for mounting the control pulley at a distance from the signal casing, and an endless wire band surrounding the two pulleys and attached to a point on each of their peripheries.

10. A direction indicator comprising in combination, a casing having a glazed aperture at the front, a signal member disposed to the rear of but close to the said aperture, a pulley mounted upon a member carried by the rear wall of the casing, connecting means between the signal member and the pulley, a hand operable control pulley pivotally mounted, means for mounting the control pulley at a distance from the signal casing, and an endless wire band surrounding the two pulleys and attached to a point on each of their peripheries.

11. A direction indicator comprising in combination, acasing having a glazed apertureat the front, a signal member disposed to the rear of but close to the said aperture, a plate to constitute for the eye a background situated behind the said signal member,'a pulley mounted upon a member carried by the rear wall of. the casing connecting means between the signal mem er and the pulley, a hand operable control pulley pivotally mounted, means for mounting the control pulley at a distance from the signal 0 ing, and an endless wire band surrounding the two pulleys and attached to a point on each of their peripheries.

12. A direction indicator comprising in combination a casing having a glazed aperture at the front, a signal member disposed to the rear of but close to the said aperture, a translucent plate to constitute for the eye a background situated behind the said signal member, a pulley mounted upon a member carried by the rear wall of the casing, 21: light source disposed between the background and the pulley, connecting means between the signal member and the pulley, a hand operable control pulley pivotally mounted, means for mounting the control pulley at a distance from the signal casing, and an endless wire band surrounding the two pulleys and attached to a point on each of their peripheries.

13. A direction indicator comprising in combination, a casing having a glazed aperture at the front, a signal member disposed to the rear of but close to the said aperture, a translucent plate to constitute for the eye a background situated behind the said signal member, a pulley mounted upon a member carried by the rear wall of the casing, a light source disposed between the background and the pulle and carried by the member about which the pulley rotates, connecting means between the signal member and the pulley, a hand operable control pulley pivotally mounted, means for mounting the control pulley at a distance from the signal casing, and an endless wire band surrounding the two pulleys and attached to a point on each of their peripheries.

14. A direction indicator comprising in combination, a casing having a glazed aperture at the front, a signal member disposed to the rear of but close to the said aperture, a translucent plate to constitute for the eye a background situated behind the said sig-' nal member, a pulley mounted upon a member carried by the rear wall of the casing, a light source disposed between the background and the necting means between the signal member and the pulley which means are carried around clear of said bulb, a hand operable control pulley pivotally mounted, means for mounting the control pulley at a distance from the signal casing, and an endless wire band surrounding the two pulleys.

15. A direction indicator comprising in combination, a casing having a glazed aper ture at the front, a signal member disposed to the rear of but close to the said aperture, a translucent plate to constitute for the eye a background situated behind the said signal member, a pulley mounted upon a member carried by the rear wall of the casing, a light source disposed between the background and the pulley and carried by the member about pulley and carried by the member about which the pulley rotates, conwhich the pulley rotates, a reflectorv connecting the pulley to the signal member, a hand operable control pulley pivotally mounted, means for mounting the control pulley at a distance from the signal casing, and an endless wire band surrounding the two pulleys.

16. A direction indicator comprising in.

combination, a casing having a glazed aperture at the front, a signal member disposed to the rear of but close to the said aperture,

a translucent plate to constitute for the eye a background situated behind the said signal member, a pulley mounted upon a memmember about which the pulley rotates, a

substantially parabolic reflector having the lamp at its focus and connecting the pulley to the signal member, a hand operable control pulley pivotally mounted, means for mounting the control pulley at a distance from the signal casing, and an endless wire band surrounding the two ulleys.

In testimon whereof I a x my si nature.

GE RGE ARTHUR GA TH. 

